Wasp Spider

Argiope bruennichi

True spiderintermediateVenom: Mild

About

A spectacular yellow-, black-, and white-banded orb-weaver. It needs a tall, airy mesh cage with twigs and branches to anchor a full orb web; keep ambient humidity up (add a moist substrate in dry homes) and feed flying insects and crickets. Non-aggressive — when disturbed it shivers the web into a blur or drops to hide. A summer-active annual species; solitary and cannibalistic. Mild venom, harmless to humans.

Taxonomy

FamilyAraneidae

GenusArgiope

Native regionEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia

TypeOrb-weaver (web)

Temperamentnon-aggressive; vibrates web or drops to hide when disturbed

Size & growth

Adult sizefemale ~15 mm, male ~5 mm

Length5.00–17.00 mm

Growth ratefast

Climate

Temperature68–82 °F

Humidity50–70%

Enclosure

Adult sizetall mesh cage with twig anchor points

Substratemoist substrate to hold ambient humidity; twigs/branches to anchor web

Substrate depth1-2 inches (web spider; rarely on the ground)

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizeflying insects, crickets

Adult cadence2-3 prey per week

Times kept: 0